Device for harmonizing colors



March 11, 1941. D E RQWE 2,234,609

DEVICE FOR HARMONIZING COLORS Filed Sept. 25, 1939 s sheets-sheepA 1 j@ @Om/dfi BY @df/m79@ ATTORNEYS:

March 11, 194i. D. E. RowE 7 y2,234,609

DEVICE Fo'n HAaMoNizmG coLoRs Filled sept. 25. 1939 s sheds-sheet 2 INVENTOR. 6J Owe,

JWM

ATTORNEYS.

March l1, 1941. Y D, E ROWE 2,234,609

DEVICE FOR HARMONIZING' COLORS Filed sept. 25, 1939 s sheets-sheet s \1NVENTOR. Omwcz j Ow BY www ATTORNEYS` Patented Mar. 11, 1941 DEVICE FOR HARMONIZING COLORS Donald E. Rowe, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Kroehler Mfg. Co., Naperville, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application September 25, 1939, Serial No. 296,377

11 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for harmonizing colors and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

5 The device is primarily designed for use by merchants dealing in furniture, rugs, and other house fittings, Where it is desired to exhibit to a customer various color combinations which may be displayed in pictured minature, as desired, on a board including a shadow box in Which there is brought to appear in succession each of said color combinations. By the use of the device the customer is enabled to approximate a realization of the harmony of a color scheme, for 15 example, in an actual room containing a furniture set, a rug, and walls, by the color scheme embodied in the pictured minature as displayed by the device.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the kind which is of cheap and economical construction, which is readily and easily operated and which assures the display of many color combinations in exact accordance with the selection of the salesman or purchaser.

The advantages of the invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is a front elevation on the scale shown in Figure 2, with the base broken away.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of one of a series of transparencies which are embodied in the device, as will be later described and which presents in opaque color one of the several features, in this case a suite of furniture, the color of which is to be combined with other decorative features in a room.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the device still further'enlarged as compared to Figure 1, with the proximate side Wall removed to disclose the inner structure.

Figure 6 is a view representing a vertical section through Figure 5 in a plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 5.

Figure '7 is a partial section of Figure 6 in a Figure 12 is a fragmentary perspective View illustrating the disposal of said discs when brought to registry to present a 'color combination, as will be Vlater described in the specilication. f 5.

vReferring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings: I5 indicates as a whole the improved device for harmonizing colors. I6 indicates a casing which encloses Athe operating parts of the device. This, as shown, is provided with a top II of fanciful design anda base I8. The casing, as illustrated, is slightly inclined upwardly and backwardly so as to present a ready View. of its face. I9 indicates the front wall of the casing and 2li indicates the back Wall (see Figure 5). Withinthe casing and intermediate the front and back walls I9 and 2U is a ver'- tical frame. 2|, which is held rigidly within the casing by top and bottom cross bars 22, 22 and 23, 23 attached to the front and `back walls I9 and 20 of the casing.

24 (see Figures 5, 6 and '7) indicates a Wooden hub which is rotative on a horizontal stud 25.l Said stud is mounted in the frame 2| and in adiagonally disposed bar 26 iixed to spoolsA 21, 2'I` secured to and projecting forwardly from the frame 2|. 28 indicates a disc preferably made of a thin sheet of Masonite and having peripheral vgear teeth 28X. Said disc is fixed conceny trically as by screws 29 to the front end of the 30 hub 24 (see Figure 7) with which it is rotative `on the stud 25. The gear teeth 28X of the disc 28 mesh with a shrouded pinion gear 3D located below itandfxedto a horizontalspindle 3| mounted at one end in the frame 2| as indicated at 32 and within the front wall I9 of the casing in an upright bar 33 attached at its upper end to the spindle 26 and at its bottom end to a spool 34' projecting from'theframe 2|. The spindle'v 3| projects beyond said front wall I9 Where it has xed to it a turn-'button 35. ZByY rotating the button 35 the 'shrouded pinion gear -30 is rotatedv and it'in turn rotates the disc 28.

Within the frame 2| and extending parallel to the front wall I9 of the casing and to the plane of the-gear 28 is located a large disc 36 which is concentrically attached by screws 31 or otherwise to the rear end of the hub 24. Thus the disc 28 and the larger disc 36 will be rotated together 'by turning the turn-button v35.

Spaced back of the disc 36 and in planes parallel thereto are discs 38 and 39 which are fixed respectively on spacing vbearing rings -38a and 39a (see Figure 7) whichv are independently rotative on the horizontal vstud 275. The discs 38 and 391 55f have respectively peripheral gear teeth 38X and 39X. Mounted below on each side of the shrouded gear 30 on spindles 40 and 4| rotatively supported in the frame 2| and the front wall |9 of the casing are shrouded pinion gears 40a and 4| which are respectively engaged with the gear teeth 38X and 39X of the discs 38 and 39.` Turnbuttons band Mb are fixed respectively to the spindles 40and-.4I`beyond the casing wall I9. The construction is such that the disc 38 may be rotated by the turn-button 40h, and the disc 39 may be rotated by the turn-button Mb.

The casing |6 is provided with an opening iny which is fixed a shadow box I6a as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Said box is disposed `as shown above and to the right of the vturn-button 35l which operates the disc 28 and its connected disc 36. The horizontal mid-axis of said, shadow box is in horizontal radial alignment with the central axis of the stud on which the several discsv 28,A 36, 38and 39 are mounted, as described labove.l

The disc-36 'is providedv with a plurality of equally,` arcuately spaced openings 36a spaced radially at like distances from the center of the disc and corresponding to' the distance of the centerof rthershadow box |6a from va point inhorizontal alignment with the center of said disc. As shown, the several openings 36a are rectangular and correspond in length and width with the'length and width of the opening' in said shadow box |6; Thus by turning the disc 36, each of the openings 36a may be broughtinto registry backofthe shadowbox |6;

The openings 36a are coveredby transparent sheets- 36h (see Figures 4 and 8). Upon each osaidtransparencies are depicted, by opaque colori or other means, furniture pieces placed as in a lroomlshown in4 perspective with two walls `l and 'a floor to .view'the furniture pieces to be arranged on said floor in proper relation to said wallsl On the Walls preferably, are depicted by opaque color or other means on said transparent sheet 36h, any usual drapes, as curtains,

- with a mantle vpiece and alamp disposed against the'far wall. The divan and chair, as the main pieces, are colord'in accordancewith any primary selection, with' which the colors of rugand walls are to be harmonized. In addition, other lpieces of furniture', as. shown in Figure 4 in the foreground without shading, may be blocked out with a color contrasting to or harmonizing with the two main pieces. Each opening 36a is cov- `ered'by a like transparency 36b printed, colored or otherwise treated to present the same or other furniture pieces which are of diii'erent colors, there being in this case seven transparencies.

In-the front wall of the casing above the turn'- button 35 is an'opening' 16h. Thel disc 28 is provided'atnpoints arcuately spaced at distances like thespacing of the openings 36 in the disc 36, with vscales 28St bearing indicia-one scale 28a being correlated to each opening 36a and adapted to register back of rthe opening |6D in `V the' front wall of the easing |6 when the transparency 36h, presenting the furniture pieces colored to correspond to said indicia on the disc 28, appears back of and in view through the shadow box I68L of the casing. This is readily 70`L'br0ughi; vabout by reason of the fact-that the disc 28 landl the'disc 36 are xed together and turn yasone when the shrouded pinion gear 30' is operated by the tum-button 35.l

Saidv indicia onthe disc 28 consists oi the word Furniture oran abbreviation thereof, to-

gether with either the name of a color or abbreviation thereof, or of a number, preferably the latter, associated with said color on a chart ||c which appears on the front wall of the casing below the opening |6b headed by the word Furniture. On said chart |6=, in vertical succession, are printed the names of various colorsas Garnet, Rose, Rust, etc. Opposite each coloris printed an` associated numeral, as 1, 2, 3 andso onin this case up'to thenumber 'l corresponding to the number of openings 36a on the disc 36. Below this chart is the turnbutton 'by means of which the disc 28 and the disc 36 are rotated to bring one of the openings 36a into registry with the shadow box |68'.

Below the turni-button h appears the printed word Wall, and below that a series of names of colors, as Yellow, Mauve, Turquoise and Mocha, each associated with a number as l, 2, 3, 4; and so on up to 7.- These colors, as will appear later, are'found on the disc 39 which bears at arcuatelyfspacedintervals radially disposed patches of colors, severally'correspondingwith the colors named under the word Wall on4 thev casing.

Horizontally with the `turn-button 40h is the turn-button. Mb, belowv which appears the word Rugf And below that is a chart ||e in which appear the names of a series of colors-Beige, Rust, Green, Plumj and so on, each associated 'wi'tha numeral 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on up to' the numeral '7.

The disc `38 is provided with arcuately .spaced cut-outs 38a, each presenting a part 38b coloredv to correspond with one of the colors appearing in the chart I6e Ias the color of a rug, said openings being adapted to be brought to registry back of the shadow box |63 and to present'the colored part 38b in position back of the rug space defined in the transparency 36b to be viewed through the' transparency and to appear as arug upon which the 'furniture is set.` The disc 38 is operated by the turn-button 4P to bring a rug of the required color to said position.

In like manner the wall color presented by the radial patches 39a on the disc 39 are brought to registry, back of the disc 38, with the shadow boxv |65, thus presenting to view through the transparency 36b of the disc 36 a color to the part of the wall which is not blocked. out by opaque paint or painting-first, by the furniture, drapes, mantle piece, and' lamp presented by the disc; and, second,'by the rug presented by the disc 38-thus exhibiting the said color on the undecorated part of the wall. The relative positions of the discs 36, 38 and 39,' when each is brought to registering position back of the shadow box ISE, are illustrated in perspective in Figure 12.

In addition to the word Furniture and a numeral 'associated with one of the colors under the word Furniture` in the scale |6, the scales 28a on the disc 28 bear the word Rug with the number associated with one of the numerals applied to a color in the scale |6e, and the word Wall associated with a numeral in the scale |6d' corresponding to a color appearing in said scale. The scales 28ab including said three sets of indicia are within limits to appear back of the opening |6b in the front of the casing. The indicia included in each scale 28al present a suggested color combination in the furniturer Thus when the cus- 7:)q

tomer, who generally has no idea as to an artisticl color scheme, is first confronted with 'the device, he is asked as to his preferred color for the furniture pieces which he selects from the scale I`.6, whereupon the turn-button 35 is turned to bring the number on scale |6 corresponding to that color of furniture, to register back of the opening |61. A't the same time the transparency 35b bearing furniture of that color comes `to register back of the shadowbox I6.

Below the number appearing on the disc 2 8 back of the opening I6b there also appears the word Rug with a number corresponding to a color of rug in scale |68, and a number corresponding to a color for the wall appearing in scale 16d. By turning the button Mb a rug of the color associated with the number appearing back of the opening 16h is brought to registry back of the transparency 36h. And by turning the button lib the disc 39 is rotated to bring to registry with the shadow box I6a a color patch 39a which appears as the color of the wall.

Should the customer object to either rug or wall color and have a preference for other colors, various combinations of rug and wall may be tried by turning the buttons Mb and/or` 40h to bring other colorings of rug and/or wall into the picture. Should the customer want to try out othe colors for the furniture pieces, the proper transparency 36b together with theA suggested colorings of rug and wall with the different color of furniture may be brought to view, and any combinations desired of the colors shown on th several scales may be tried. j

To assure the presentation of the intended transparency with the color of furniture as indicated in `the scale l6 andthe -proper color of rug and of wall as indicated respectively inthe scales I6e and IBG, each of the discs 36, 38 and 39 bear on the advancing side of the transparency 36h of the rug piece 38b and of the color patch 39a, respectively, the numeral corresponding to the color associated therewith in their respective scales on the front wall of the casing, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and l0. Thus in turning the buttons associated with the respective discs to rotate said discs to the right as indicated by arrows in Figures 6, 8, 9 and 10, the number associated therewith in each case will appear first and the rotation must be arrested when the transparency 36h, the rug piece 3Bb and the lcolor patch 39a come to register back of the shadow box I6a.

For brevity, the disc 36 which bears the features spaced in the direction of their movement and presenting the basic views in perspective, may be referred to as a basic member. And the discs 38 and/or 39 with similarly spaced features, which supplement the viewsI presented by the basic member 36 inl the nal picture disclosed through the view opening, may be referred toas sup-plemental members-and this without any limitation as to the form or kind of movement of said mem-bers.

The operation of the device and its advantages for harmonizing colors will be readily understood from the foregoing description. By its use the salesman may come to anassured conclusiones to what the customer wants and what colors harmonize to suit the customers taste. And the customer may see and study the effect of dierent combinations of color as they will appear in a room at his home which, without such a device, he has heretofore been unable to visualize.

While in describing my invention I have referred to .several details of construction and arrangement of parts, it will be obvious that they. are capable of some modications and changes without departing from the spirit of the invention which is not limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims;

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device for harmon-zing colors, a casing provided with a view opening, a plurality of movable members, including a basic member and one or more supplemental members, disposed in succession back of said view opening, each provided .with spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said view opening and being independently movable to that end, each feature of said basic member being a transparency with a substantially opaque pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental memberl being a representation in perspective co-related to and adapted to be seen through the non-opaque part of the basic member, and means for moving each movable mem.- ber to bring one of its features to register with said view opening.

-2. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing provided with a View opening, a plurality of movable members, including a basic member and one or more supplemental members, disposed in succession back of said `View opening, each provided with spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said View opening and being independently movable to that end, each feature of said basic member being a transparency with a substantially opaque pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental member being a representation in perspective co-related to and adapted to` be seen through the non-opaque part of the basic member, the feature of each movable member bearing a character to be correlated with said view opening when it is brought to register therewith,

and means for moving each movable member to bring` one of its features to register with said view opening.

3. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing provided with a view opening, a plurality of movable members, including a -basic member and one or moresupplernental members, disposed in succession back of said View opening, each provided with spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said view opening and being independently movable to that end, each feature of said basic member being a transparency with a substantiallyopaque pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of .the next succeeding supplemental member being a representation in perspective co-related to 'and adaptedfto be seen rthrough the non-opaque part of the basic member, the featurescof each of the succeeding movable members being pictorial representations which may be seen through'the non-opaque parts of the members in front of it, and means for moving each movable memberto bring one of its features to register with said viewopening.

4. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing provided with a View opening, a pluralityv of movable members, including a basic member and one or more supplemental members, disposed in succession back of said View opening, each provided with spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said view opening and beingindependently movable to that end, each feature of said basic member being a transparency vwith a substantially opaque colored pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the,` next Cil a transparency with a substantiallyr opaque picsucceeding supplemental member. being a :colored representation .in perspective-corelated -toI and adapted to be seentliroughthe non-opaque part of the basic member, an index member movablewith said basic member provided with spaced scales of color combinations, each scaleincluding a color for each movable member, said casingbeing provided withy arsecond View opening. associated with said-color scales on saidindex member, a plurality of charts, one associated with each movable member and containing avlist of colors severally indicating the colorsy of the spaced features on its associated movable vmember, and means for moving each movable member to bring itsfeature to register with said view opening.

5. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing kprovided with a view-` opening, .a plurality of movablemembers, including: a basic member and oneor more supplemental members, disposed in succession back of said view opening,A each provided `with spaced features adapted. to be broughti to register with said view opening and being in.-c dependently movable to that end, each featureof said basic member being a transparency'with a substantially opaque colored .pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental member being a colored representation in perspective co-related to and adapted to be seen through thev nonopaque part of the basic member, an index member vmovable with said basic member provided with spaced scales of color combinations, each scale including a color for each movable member, said casing being provided with a second view opening associated with said color scales onfsaid index member,` a plurality of charts, one associated with each movable member and containing a list of colors severally indicating the c'olorsvof the spaced features on its associated movable member, the feature of each movable member bearing a character to .be correlated with said view opening when itA is brought to register therewith, and means for moving each movable member to bring its feature to register with said view" opening.

6. In a device for harmoniizng colors, a casing provided with a view opening, a plurality of rotatable discs, including a basicdisc and one or more supplemental discs, disposed in succession Within the casing back of the plane of said view opening, each provided with spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said'view opening and being independently rotatable to that end, each feature of said basic disc being torial. representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental disc being a representation in perspective co-related to and adapted .to be seen through the non-opaque part of thefbasic disc, and' means for-rotating each-r disc to bring one of its features to register with said view opening.

7. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing provided with a view opening, a plurality of "discs rotatable about a common axis, including a basic disc and one or more supplemental discs disposed in succession Within the casing back of the plane of said view opening,V each disc being provided with annularly spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said view opening and beingindependently rotatable to that end, each feature of said basic disc being,A a transparency with a substantially opaque pictorialrepresenta- 75 tionin perspective, each feature of the next suc-A ce'eding; supplemental `disc-.being a representation in perspectivecoerelatedf to 'and yadapted-4 to be` seen;I throughthe-znoneopaque part of' the basic adapted tof-be brought to register with said viewopening; and being independently rotatable tothatfend, each feature of said basic disc being a transparencywith 'a substantially opaque pictorial representationin perspective, each feature of the next succeedingrsup-plemental disc being a representation perspective-corelated to and adapted to be seen through the non-opaque part of the basic disc, the features of each of the succeeding discs being pictorial re-presentations which may be I' seen through the non-opaqueparts of the discs in front .of it, and means for rotating each disc to bring one of its features to register with s aid view opening.

9. In a device, for harmonizing colors, a casing` providedwith'aview opening, a plurality ofv discs rotatable about a'common axis, including a basic disclandone` or more vsupplemental discs, disposed,- in succession within the casing back ofthe plane of said viewtopening, each disc'being provided with annularly spaced rfeatures adapted to be brought `to register Withsaid-view opening andbeing. independently rotatable to that end, each feature of said .basic disc being a transparency withA a substantially opaque colored pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental disc being a colored,representationin perspective co-related to` and adapted vto be seen through the nonopaque part ofthe basic disc, an index disc rotatable with said basic disc provided with annularly spaced scales of color combinations, each scale including a color for each rotatable disc, said casingbeing provided with a second view opening associated with saidcolor scales ori-said index disc, a plurality of charts, one associated Witheach disc Aand containing a list of colors severally indicating the colors of `the spaced features on its .associated disc,v and means for rotating eachdisc to bringvits feature to register withsaid view opemng.

10. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casingprovided with a vievfopening, a plurality of discs rotatable about a common axis, including a basicdisc and `one ormore supplemental discs,

tatable withsaid. basic discV provided with ani-- nularly spaced-scales of color combinations, each scaleincluding a color for each rotatable disc.

said casing being provided with a second view opening associated with said color scales on said index disc, a plurality of charts, one associated with each disc andcontaining a list of colors severally indicating the colors of the spaced features on its associated disc, the feature of each disc bearing a character to be correlated with said view opening when it is brought to register therewith, and means for rotating each disc to bring its feature to register with said view openmg.

11. In a device for harmonizing colors, a casing provided with a View opening, a plurality of discs rotatable about a common axis, including a basic disc and one or more supplemental discs, disposed in succession Within the casing back of the plane of said View opening, each disc being provided with annularly spaced features adapted to be brought to register with said view opening and being independently rotatable to that end, each feature of said basic disc being a transparency with a substantially opaque colored pictorial representation in perspective, each feature of the next succeeding supplemental disc being a colored representation in perspective corelated to and adapted to be seen through the non-opaque part of the basic disc, an index disc rotatable with said basic disc provided with annularly spaced sca-les of color combinations, each scale including a color for each disc, said casing being provided with a second View opening associated with said color scales on said index disc, a plurality of charts on said casing, one associated with each disc and containing a list of colors severally indicating the colors of the spaced features on its associated disc, turn-buttons on said casing, one for each disc, each turnbutton being associated kWith the chart indicating the colors of the features of that disc, and means intermediate said several buttons and their associated discs for rotating the same to bring its features to register with said View opening.

DONALD E. ROWE. 

